Minnesota at Cincinnati

Johnson, Palmer get it started; Bengals crush Vikings

CINCINNATI -- Chad Johnson went directly
from talking to trashing the Vikings.

Johnson caught a 70-yard touchdown pass on the game's second play
Sunday, and the Cincinnati Bengals had their
way during a 37-8 victory over Minnesota that
made a statement and raised a question.

Yes, the 2-0 Bengals think they're for real.

"It's right there in front of us," said Johnson, who had seven catches
for 139 yards. "This year we can do something special."

And the 0-2 Vikings? Are they really this bad? So far, yes.

"We have a veteran group with a lot of pride, and we're embarrassed with
the way we're playing," said Daunte Culpepper, who threw a career-high
five interceptions. "I'm determined to fix it. One thing we've got to do
is stay together."

And ignore the talk.

Johnson got his mouth going during pregame introductions, talking a
little friendly trash to Vikings cornerback Fred Smoot. The receiver had
challenged him during the week to show what he's got.

The Bengals had it all over the Vikings, rolling up 337 yards and a 27-0
lead in the first half. Johnson topped 100 yards receiving before
halftime, setting the tone for Cincinnati's most lopsided win in three
years.

It was so convincing that coach Marvin Lewis warned his players not to
get carried away.

By contrast, Culpepper had a miserable time, throwing those five
interceptions -- three to Deltha O'Neal.
The Vikings turned the ball over seven times in all and didn't get
closer than the Bengals' 49-yard line in the first half.

By that point, Johnson didn't need to say anything else. The numbers
said it all.

Carson Palmer completed his first nine passes against a dazed
defense. Palmer went 27-of-40 for 337 yards overall with touchdown
passes to three different receivers. The one to Johnson set the tone.

He was yapping before the coin toss, sauntering toward the Vikings bench
to yell at Smoot. The cornerback yelled back and made a "bring-it-on"
arm wave.

Fifty-two seconds into the game, Johnson was in the end zone.

The Vikings were slow getting defensive substitutions onto the field for
the second play, and looked confused as the coverage was called. Smoot
lined up in the slot against T.J. Houshmandzadeh, leaving Johnson
covered along the sideline by Antoine Winfield.

Big mistake.

"It was a breakdown," Smoot said. "You can't start a game off like that.
There's no excuse. We've got to stop sugarcoating things. Everybody's
got to get better."

Johnson flew past Winfield and took Palmer's long pass in stride over
the shoulder for a 70-yard touchdown play that left the Vikings on their
heels.

"It opens up the passing game," Palmer said. "When a guy gets open that
early, it definitely puts fear into their hearts."

The Vikings sank a lot of money into their defense in the offseason,
bringing in Smoot, safety Darren Sharper and lineman Pat Williams. They
were helpless in the decisive first half - the Bengals didn't even have
to punt.

Sharper and Winfield were on the bench with injuries while the Bengals
closed it out in the fourth quarter.

For the second consecutive game, the Vikings' offense couldn't get out
of its own way. Culpepper had three interceptions and two fumbles in an
opening 24-13 loss to Tampa Bay, and repeatedly forced passes against
the Bengals -- one of O'Neal's interceptions was in the end zone.

The Vikings' offense set numerous franchise records last season with
Randy Moss, and hasn't been the same without him, scoring only one
touchdown in two games. The Vikings couldn't even take advantage of
franchise-record 17 penalties by the Bengals.

When it ended, Johnson sought out Smoot and gave him a warm embrace.

Talking in his ear the whole time, of course.

"It's love, man," Johnson said. "It's the love of playing the game with
the same passion as you. We had fun out there."

Well, one of them did.

"Yeah, I'm embarrassed," Smoot said.

Notes

The Vikings had no immediate assessment of several injured players. WR
Nate Burleson (knee), Sharper (knee) and Winfield (foot) left the game.

It was Palmer's second-best passing day in two seasons and his third
300-yard passing game.

The last time Cincinnati had seven takeaways was Nov. 6, 1983, at
Houston.

Lewis angrily shoved safety Reggie Myles aside after he got a
penalty for a head-butt on a punt coverage.

First-round pick David Pollack lined up offsides twice,
negating two other Vikings fumbles.

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